Roundabouts would be added to the St-Pierre and Limoges road intersections, while additional turning lanes would be added as interim measures at St-Augustin and St-Thomas roads. The recommendations were made in a Russell Township environmental assessment published online for public consultation.

UNE VERSION FRANÇAISE DE CET ARTICLE EST DISPONIBLE À LA PAGE 5 DU REFLET-NEWS DU 28 OCTOBRE 2020

The report said the upgrades were required to accommodate traffic from the township’s growing population, as well as the route’s role as an emergency detour for the nearby Highway 417. Basic stop signs currently service all of the intersections.

A roundabout instead of traffic lights would improve both safety and congestion at St-Pierre Road, the report said. It would also provide “design consistency” for the town, the report said, referring to the existing roundabout in Embrun and one proposed for the St-Pierre/County Road 28 intersection to the north.

Consistency was also key to the recommendation for a roundabout at the Limoges Road intersection. That road, which connects to Highway 417 in the north, had been chosen as the site of a roundabout in a 2018 traffic impact study. If approved, the intersection would be moved slightly south to avoid nearby residential properties.

While a roundabout was not recommended for the St-Augustin Road intersection, the report left the door open to a future upgrade in order to “provide increased flexibility in the event that increased traffic volumes are ultimately generated”. A westbound left-turn lane and eastbound right-turn lane were recommended in the meantime, in order to make it easier for drivers to access St-Augustin Road toward Embrun.

Turn lanes in those directions would also be added to the St-Thomas Road intersection, which the report found did not warrant traffic signals. Those measures would make it easier to access residential areas to the south, the report said.